Apparatus for preserving beer



(No Model.)

P. KINGSLAND.

Apparatus for Preserving Beer, 8130.

Patented Aug. 24,1880.

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NPETERQI PHDTOwLIIHOGRAPHEfl. WASHINGTON. 0J3.

FIEO PHILIP KINGSLAND, OF KILDARE, WISCONSIN.

APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING BEER, 840.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,432, dated August 24, 1880. Application filed Apiil 19, 1880. I (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP KINGSLAND, of Kildare, Juneau county, Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful improvement in apparatus for preserving beer and any otherliquids which are injured by exposure to the air; andI hereby declare the following to be a full and correct description of the same, reference being made to the drawings herewith, which form part of the specification, representing my said improvement as when in actual use.

My invention consists of a novel apparatus for occupying the vacant space made in a cask of liquid upon withdrawal of any part of the contents thereof in such a manner that while the remaining contents are preserved from exposure to the air a regulated pressure is exerted thereon sufficient to cause the liquid to flow readily, and at the same time so slight as to prevent a forcible waste when the draft is opened. The manner in which this is acconr plished is by means of an elastic bag, formed of a shape to accommodate itself to the inside of the cask or barrel in which it is placed, in connection with a regulated pressure of air from without, so that upon any part of the contents of any cask or barrel to which my invention is attached being withdrawn a pressure of air from without immediately expands the bag within the cask or barrel, so as to occupy all the space vacated by the liquid, while an air-escape connected with the bag so regulates the pressure as to prevent so forcible an expulsion of the contents as to cause a waste thereof when the draft is opened.

In the drawings attached, in Figure 1, A rep resents a cask of liquid-for instance, beer. B represents an elastic or flexible bag, preferably made of india-rubber, and of such size as to fill, when expanded, the cask or barrel to which it is attached. This bag is securely attached to the small end of a bung,O, which is provided with an opening for the introduction of air into the bag, and with an air escape or regulator for the discharge of air from the bag whenever any desired amount of pressure is exceeded.

In Fig. 2 the bung O is hollowed out, and at its upper end is provided inwardly with a shoulder or projection containing a female screw, in which a regulator, D, is screwed, and

below which shoulder is an opening provided with a tube, T, for the admission of air, which tube contains a valve preventing the exit or escape of the air within.

The regulator D consists of a hollow cylinder, outwardly furnished at its upper end with a thread to fit into the female screw in the bung, and a slight shoulder or projection to fit upon the inner shoulder of the bung and inwardly with a female screw. The lowerend of said cylinder is furnished inwardly with a female screw for reception of a hollow cap, E, provided at its inner end with a valve for escape of air into the cylinder.

The interiorof the cylinder is furnished with a rod or plunger, F, the lower end of which rests upon the valve of cap E, and the upper end of which passes through a hollow screw, G, which is furnished with a thread, so that it fits the hollow cylinder and can he raised or lowered therein at pleasure. At the lower end of said rod or plunger a shoulder is formed, upon which rests one end of a spiral spring, H, which is coiled around the plunger, and the upper end of which touches the hollow screw.

In operation the tube T is connected by a piece of rubber hose or tubing with an ordinary air-pump or any apparatus by means of which air under pressure may be forced through the tube, and so on into the elastic bag. The hollow screw G is lowered so far as that a sufficient pressure is exerted upon the air-escape valve by the plunger in connection with the spiral spring, to prevent the escape of air through the valve, except upon a pressure of air from within the bag, which would endanger loss of contents of the cask or barrel through too forcible expulsion upon opening the draft or tap. Upon withdrawal, then, of any part of the contents of the cask or barrel, a quantity of air is forced through the tube, and as soon as the bag is sufficiently expanded the regulator allows the escape of any excess of air which may be forced into the bag.

In practice I use a small air-pump placed in an ice-box, with which the bag can be filled with cold air as often as any contents are withdrawn; or all the air in the bag may be cooled by forcing cold air from the ice-box into the bag until the warm air has all escaped from the regulator; but if convenient and it is preferred the bung may be connected with a reservoir of air in a bellows or other manner, upon which suilicicnt pressure is constantly exerted by weights or other means as to cause the air in the bag slightly to open the air-escape, and thus an automatic action may be obtained, keeping the correct pressure upon the liquid contents of the cask or barrel at all times while any air remains in the reservoir.

.13 thus keeping the air from contact with the contents of any cask or barrel any liquid ordinarily injured by exposure to the air while on draft or tap may be kept on draft and preserved fresh and sweet any length of time desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The cylindrical regulator D, provided with a thread and shoulder to engage with the bung of a barrel or cask, and having the valve-cap E, plunger F, spring H, and hollow screw G, all constructed as and for the purpose specified.

2. The hollow bung 0, provided with valvetube '1 and a threaded interior shoulder to engage with the regulator D, in combination with elastic bag B and the regulator D, contained within the bung and held in position by means of the threaded interior shoulder thereof, whereby a space for the passage of air into the bag is formed between the bung and the regulator, substantially as set forth.

PHILIP KINGSLAND.

In presence of- W. A. LYNCH, M. KELLY. 

